1JKL2. 
ISOS 
Ruralisms 
SUBSTITUTE FOR POTATOES. 
Under the heading, “Another Blow at 
Ireland,” the newspapers print the follow- 
, ing note. How much is there in it? 
“Washington, Oct. 30.—The Department 
of Agriculture has ready for distribution 
through Representatives in Congress 1,000 
bushels of seed dashcens, the semi-tropical 
f THE RURAh 
C: •- - 
when other pot herbs are not to be 
had. The dasheen and its relatives will 
probably never threaten the supremacy 
of the Irish potato where that substan¬ 
tial esculent can readily be grown, but 
in hot, moist localities and in mucky 
soils with sufficient growing season they 
form a food reserve that has only to be 
known to be well appreciated. v. 
WINTER CARE OF HARDY ROSES. 
tuber which, it is expected, will take the 
place of Irish potatoes in the Southern 
States. This is the first season in which 
such a distribution will be made. 
“The new potato substitute, which has a 
hairy coat and has been grown with much 
success in Florida, comes from Central and 
South America, and will grow in the moist, 
warm regions of the South, which are fatal 
to the Irish potato. It has been tried at 
the banquets of the National Geographic 
Society and pronounced decidedly good. It 
can be boiled or baked, or cooked in any 
other way a potato can be used. The taste 
is rather more meaty than a potato. Some 
who have eaten the dasheen say there is a 
suggestion of roasted chestnut about it, 
and others that it tastes as though a very 
slight addition of gravy had been made to 
a potato. Tests have shown that a crop 
of 400 to 450 bushels an acre can be 
raised.” 
Dasheen, yantia and tanier are popu¬ 
lar names applied to various species of 
Colocasia and Xanthosoma producing 
edible tubers. They are all handsome, 
broad-leaved, semi-aquatic plants, native 
to the tropics of both continents and in 
many localities, notably the warmer 
oriental countries, where potatoes do not 
thrive, form the staple starchy vegetable 
food of the inhabitants. They are par¬ 
ticularly adapted for rich swampy lands, 
rather too wet to produce other culti¬ 
vated crops. There are many species 
and varieties, the familiar ornamental 
elephant’s ear, Colocasia esculenta, 
known as taro in the Hawaiian and 
South Sea Islands, and the tanier of 
the Gulf States, naturalized from the 
West Indies and South America, repre¬ 
senting in temperate climates the two 
important genera concerned. Yantias 
are South American forms of Xantlia- 
soma, apparently only adapted for hot 
countries. The dasheens or edible Coloca- 
Do not cut back the hardy Hybrid 
Remontant roses with a mistaken idea 
of making the rose garden look tidy 
for the Winter, but leave all the growth 
the plants have made ; it will winter- 
kill to some extent. In the Spring cut 
back hard, leaving only about eight 
inches growth. In very cold sections 
it is necessary to lay down the canes, 
protecting them with sod, and this is 
a very good method of protection for 
tender sorts. In the latitude of New 
York, most of the Remontants need 
nothing more than a mulch of strawy 
manure, but there are exposed locations 
even in this vicinity where more coyer 
is needed. There are several plans of 
protection which may be adopted. One 
is to throw up a mound of soil to a 
height of six to 10 inches, around each 
plant, then scatter strawy manure be¬ 
tween the plants. In the Spring the 
mound may be drawn away and 
smoothed down, and the remains of the 
manure lightly forked under. A plan 
frequently used with the tender Hybrid 
Teas is to scatter a mulch of manure 
over the surface, then put around the 
bed a low fence of wire netting about 
12 inches high, and fill the space level 
with dry forest leaves, with a few corn¬ 
stalks or branches on top to keep them 
from blowing away. 
Standard roses, which are grown in 
tree form, are often the victim of the 
first Winter, largely because of sun- 
scald and freezing of the exposed stem. 
Wrapping this stem in straw right up 
to the head is often sufficient protec¬ 
tion, but in exposed locations it is ad¬ 
visable to heel them in and cover with 
sod. Personally we have small liking 
for these artificially headed rose trees, 
though they form an effective center to 
a bed of rose bushes. They are often 
beautifully grown and bloomed by 
gardeners on private estates, but both 
Winter and Summer are harder on them 
here than in Europe, and the average 
amateur will get more satisfaction from 
bush roses. e. t. r. 
sias, however, can be grown in rich, 
moist soils in practically all localities 
where the season is long and warm 
enough for ordinary maize or field corn. 
They thrive, wherever tried under 
proper conditions, in all the Southern 
States, and produce well at least as 
far north as the latitude of Washing¬ 
ton, D. C. For reasonable success mois¬ 
ture and quickly available fertility are 
absolutely essential. Best results may 
be expected in well-prepared swamp or 
muck lands that will grow good crops 
of celery. They require little culture 
save the prompt removal of weeds, as 
the broad leaves early shade the ground 
and they may be planted where the soil 
is too wet to till, provided it is suffi¬ 
ciently rich and warm. The edible por¬ 
tion is the hairy tuber embedded in the 
base of the leafy stem, and is cooked 
and eaten like ordinary potatoes. The 
flavor is excellent, resembling to some 
extent boiled or roasted chestnuts, but 
there is often considerable acridity in 
the raw tubers and they should never 
be tasted in that state. Propagation is 
effected by planting the small tubers and 
offsets bearing “eyes” or growing buds, 
that are plentifully produced about the 
main tubers. The yield in suitable soil 
in localities having a frostless Summer 
of five to seven months rises to and 
even exceeds 400 bushels per acre. 
The U. S. Department of Agriculture 
has been collecting the best varieties of 
dasheen, and now recommends it as a 
garden and field crop in Southern locali¬ 
ties. Information in pamphlet form 
may be obtained by addressing the 
Bureau of Plant Industry, Washington, 
D. C. A minor use of the dasheen is 
the utilization of the leaves as a sub¬ 
stitute for spinach or greens. Cooked 
with a pinch of baking soda to neutral¬ 
ize their slight acridity they are very 
good indeed, and may often be available 
Horticultural Briefs. 
In Great Britain “maiden” or unpol¬ 
larded White willow timber is worth more 
than oak, owing to the demand for it in 
making cricket bats. Sales are reported at 
three shillings and sixpence to five shillings 
a cubic foot, while one tree brought £10. 
Ikish Fireflame is a new single rose 
attracting attention among florists who 
cater to an expensive trade. It is sold as 
a cut flower while unopened, making a 
small, very pointed hud of great elegance, 
flaming orange scarlet in color. It is of 
Irish origin. 
In killing out wild onions, as discussed 
by H. It. Cox on page 1150, Mr. Cox adds 
that sweeps may be attached to almost 
any cultivator in place of the shovels. They 
act as a series of knives run iust under 
the soil surface, and are highly efficient 
in cutting off the stems of the onion. 
When you write advertisers mention The 
R. N.-Y. and you’ll get a quick reply and a 
“square deal.” See guarantee editorial page. 
A FRIEND’S ADVICE ^ 
Something Worth Listening To. 
A young Nebr. man was advised by a 
friend to eat Grape-Nuts because he 
was all run down from a spell of fever. 
He tells the story: 
“Last spring I had an attack of fever 
that left me in a very weak condition. I 
had to quit work; had no appetite, was 
nervous and discouraged. 
“A friend advised me to eat Grape- 
Nuts, but I paid no attention to him 
and kept getting 'worse as time went by. ; 
“I took many kinds of medicine but 
none of them seemed to help me. My 
system was completely run down, my 
blood got out of order from want of 
proper food, and several very large 
boils broke out on my neck. 1 was so 
weak I could hardly walk. 
“One day mother ordered some Grape- 
Nuts and induced me to eat some. I felt 
better and that night rested fine. As I 
continued to use the food every day, I 
grew stronger steadily and now have 
regained my former good health. I would 
not be without Grape-Nuts as I believe 
it is the most health-giving food in the 
world.” Name given by Postum Co., 
Battle Creek, Mich. 
Read the book, “The Road to Well- 
ville,” in pkgs. “There’s a reason.” 
Ever read the above letter ? A new one 
appears from time to time. They are genu¬ 
ine, true, and full of human interest. 
NEW-YORKER 
Don’t Experiment with Roofing 
It pays to buy good roofing just as it pays to buy good machinery and to 
keep good stock. Good roofing has good records, not claims , behind it. 
NEpdnseT 
PARDID ROOFING 
has excelled the records of best shingles. A warehouse built in 1898 was torn down 
last summer with its NeppnseT Paroid Roof still in good " hape NEp □ nSET Pa™d 
has outworn tin and metal time and again. It is bought by Governments by Railway 
pro,ed «co v „°o r „ n ,Sl"lio b L?. a,l SK 
Write for Our Booklet on Roofing 
and the name of a NEponseT dealer near you. 
He’s a good man to know. Send postal today. 
F.W.Bird & Son (*$] 207 Neponset St., E.Walpole, Mass. 
New York Chicago 
San Francisco 
Washington Portland, Oro. 
Canadian Plant: Hamilton, Ont. 
NEpdnseT 
Proslate Roofing 
makes a handsome 
red or green roof for 
houses. 
GET THE BEST 9 CORDS IN IOHOURS 
■ ■ ■ I Warn Wm9 k 4^9 | -If ituxs has y rv. — a.- „„ saws down 
- ' - ™ M TREKS 
A Good Spray Pump earns 
big profits and lasts for years. 
THE 
ECLIPSE 
MORRILL 
is a good pump. As 
practical fruit growers 
we were using com¬ 
mon sprayers in our own 
orchards—found their defects 
and invented the Eclipse. Its 
success forced us to manu¬ 
facturing on a large scale. 
You take no chances. We 
have done all the experi¬ 
menting ! Large, fully illus¬ 
trated Catalog and Treatise 
on spraying Free. 
S MORLEY MFG. CO., Box 5, Benton Harbor, Mich. 
BY ONE MAN. It’s KING OF THE WOODS. Sbtcs money and 
backache. Send for FKKK catalog No B$8 showing low price 
and testimonials from thousands. First order gets agency. 
Folding Sawing Mach. Co.. 161W. Harrison St., Chicago. Ill* 
ON FREE TRIAL 
San Jose Scale Killer 
KIL-O-SCA LE is the most reliable 
remedy for Scale. Ready for use 
by simply mixing- with water. Also 
Lime sulphur and Spraying Out¬ 
fits. Write for catalogue. 
Henry A. Dreer, Philadelphia,Pa. 
No money in advance—no baulk 
deposit. Horse and Man Power 
Sprayers for field and orchard. Barrel and 
Power Sprayers. High pressure, thorough agf- 
.ation. Built to last. Guaranteed for 6 years. 
We pay freight. Extra profit pay s ior the machine-. 
Write today for our big free catalog, spraying guide 
and special free offer to first in each locality. 
THE H. L. HURST MFG. COMPANY. 
281 North St., Canton, Ohio. 
__ - _ _ i f ’ row c ‘d £r apples. Rid your trees of scale and fungous pests and grow 
- pplles by “ sm j> Scaiecide”—the one absolutely sure scale spray. 
‘ . * ... ls . e: L?y t0 handle, it will not clog or corrode the nozzle or injure the 
H u ,‘ d n P a poo r ly paylI }S> run down orchard and make it return 
ic .kt , 11 will maintain a r good orchard in prime condition. “Scaiecide” 
is the best spray for San Jo;e. It kills every scale it reaches. “Scaiecide” goes 
'?• Cheape / and ™ ore 1 effective than lime sulphur. Endorsed by Experi¬ 
ment Stations and used by the best orchardists everywhere. “Scaiecide” will 
th/ne Cth^o k l Pr °l t "w’ . t ° ur -SERVICE DEPARTMENT furnishes every 
Fmft '‘■ V f£ Ite , to l4 ay io l new booklet “Pratt’s Handbook for 
. r £ uit Growers and Scaiecide’-—the Tree Saver.'’ They contain valuable 
arl°free tl0 H r ^ char ^ sts ’ ri Every fruit grower should have them. Both 
are free. B. G. Pratt Co., Dept, s0 Church Street, New York City. 
T HE most reliable lantern for farm use 
is the RAYO. It is made of best ma¬ 
terial, so that it is strong and durable 
without being heavy and awkward. 
It gives a clear, strong light. Is easy to light and rewick. 
It won’t blow out, won’t leak, and won’t smoke. It is 
an expert-made lantern. Made in various sizes and 
styles. There is a RAYO for every requirement. 
At Dealers Everywhere 
STANDARD OIL COMPANY OF NEW YORK 
Albany Boston 
Buffalo New York 
Strong, 
Serviceable, Safe. 
